New Delhi - How Much Vulnerable She Is

Google defines siege as "a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside."

This is an important aspect of war employed by multiple conquering forces around the world. History has many examples. Alexander's army conquered Phoenician city of Tyre - which most of the commanders before him considered as impregnable - after seven month long siege.

Many of so called impregnable cities surrendered or tried for a final breakout once the supply of essential commodities ran out. The point to be noted here is - supply lines. It will be very difficult, if not impossible, for any government to maintain law and order long after the essential supplies ran out.

Take a look at our national capital - New Delhi. During recent Jat agitation, those people  damaged Munak canal which supplies water to Delhi. Because of this  water supply in national capital came under severe stress and government was forced to close schools.

Problem with Delhi is unwise use of Yamuna - which now is more of a sewage channel than a river - left Delhi to look for water from near-by states and Ganga. Those near-by states won't be interested in feeding a faraway city when their own water requirements are not getting fulfilled. This makes Delhi too much dependant on long stretched canals and faraway rivers. Recent Jat agitation showed to the world how vulnerable Delhi really is. Governments were panicked and eventually army had to come to secure a canal damaged by agitating Jats.

Just imagine an event of war or any other agitation; just by damaging a canal anyone take Delhi as hostage... That also with a couple of weeks. Siege or not, Delhi has to think about alternate sources for water.

Sajeev